Industrial truck



Dec. 27, 1949 H. F. WILMS 2,492,608

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed March 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. HENRY F WILMS BY 46, ,e f

, Dec. 27, 1949 Filed March 26, 1946 \I\ NGM H. F. WILMS 2,492,608

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

HENRY E WILM:

Dec. 27, 1949 H. F. WILMS INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 4 Sheets-Shegt 4 Filed March 2 1945" INVENTOR.

HENRY F WILM: BY 4% Patented Dec. 27, 1949 INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Henry F.'Wilms, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Elwell Par-ker Electric Company,

Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 26, 1946, Serial No. 657,265

I 1 Claim. (01. 214-65) This invention relates to industrial trucks and especially trucks f the type adapted to straddle loads. It differs from conventional load handling apparatus in providingan elevatable platform which may operatefrom floor level tomaximum elevated position within the frame of the truck and between the load bearing wheels without transverse reinforcing structurals, either overhead or otherwise.

Heretofore low lifting platform types of trucks have been constructed to have the truck frame or chassis extend beneath the platform and confined within the marginal boundaries of the load lifting platform. Since the load bearing capacity of the tires on the wheels attached to the chassis beneath the load platform determined the load lifting and transporting capacity of the truck various dual wheel and dual tire arrangements have been used to increase the truck transporting capacity. However, definite limitations on tire diameters remained. v

In the tier-lift type of truck wheel size limitations did not exist to the same extent, but in this type the platform and supporting mechanism overhung the end of the truck, thus requiring counter-balancing factors which frequently increased the overall power burdens on the truck power plant. 'Furthermore, sufficient wheel diameter limitations still remained as to place definite restrictions upon the, transporting vehicle of. a modified tier-lift type adapted .to

receive loads at low levels so that the center of gravity of the load falls within a four-point suspension of the truck without interference from truck framing, or axles, and without the provision of overhead cross bracing structures. It is a collateral object to take advantage of such load distribution by the employment of relatively large diameter, pneumatically-tired wheels, whereby the load may be transported safely at road speeds heretofore found to be impractical.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter when the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the boom hoist shown in a diiierent position; 7

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along 2 line 3-3 of Fig. 7 illustrating certain details of construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary mid-sectional elevational view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing certain details of the load supporting lift;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view shown partly in section illustrating details of the boom hoist, and;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating details of frame and associated parts.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the truck comprises a chassis i having four comparatively large load supporting pneumatic wheels 2 journalled on opposite sides of the chassis in opposing relation. At one of its ends the chassis is provided with an extension 3 on which is mounted a motor 4 of appropriate design and an operators platform 5 with which is as sociated the necessary controls 6. The wheels 2 beneath the power plant are dirigible and steered from the operators position on the platform 5.

At its other end the chassis is bifurcated to provide a load supporting well I which extends from a point on the chassis adjacent the motor 4 outwardly beyond the wheels 2' at the far end of the truck.

Within the well I is disposed an 'elevatable platform 8 which is adapted to be raised and lowered through the horizontal plane of the axis of the wheels that straddle it. This is made possible by the use of stub axles independently mounted in opposed relation upon each of the legs of the U-shaped frame which will be described in greater particular hereinafter. The vertical translation of the platform 8 is effected by a hydraulic piston 9 and associated telescoping trackways I0 which will be more fully described hereinafter.

To facilitate the handling of certain classes of loads to and from the platform 8, a boom hoist ll comprising a vertical stanchion l2 and a traversable boom 13 is footed on portions of the frame adjacent the platform and is'adapted to be swung to and from positions overlying the latter. The boom is provided with a hoisting hook l4 and the necessary connecting lines l5 by which the hook and the boom, respectively, are raised and lowered. I r

Referring particularly to Fig. 8, it will be seen that sufiicient strength and rigidity is afforded the bifurcated chassis without the need for overhead transverse structurals by means of a U shaped frame that is composed of heavy plate sections arranged with their greatest transverse dimension in the vertical and integrally connected todefi-nea load carrying well in which the platform 8 is adapted to be disposed. To lend greater rigidity and strength, plate sections 2| of lighter gauge are assembled to cooperate with the U-shaped frame 2%. to provide box beams 22 which extend upon the outside faces of the U-shaped frame intermediate the wheels of the vehicle.

Adjacent the outer ends of the legs of the U-shaped frame are positioned stub axles on which a pair of the wheels 2 are adapted to be journalled and which leave the open end of the U unobstructed for the movement of the platform as well as for the introduction and removal of loadsto'and' from the latter.

Adjacent the base of the U-shaped frame is a modified tier-lift mechanism including the telescoping trackway assembly it! previously referred to and which is composed of vertically extending channel members 25- welded or otherwise. rigidly affixed to the inside walls of the U-shaped frame. Disposed between these relatively stationary channel members, is another set of channels 2% which areconnected at their upper ends by a transverse beam 21 and which have metal angles 28. rigidly fastened throughout the upper half of their'extent on their faces respectively proximate to each of the relatively stationary channel members '25.

The outerchannel members 25 have fixed rollers 29 which are adapted to engage the angles 28 to afford roller guides therefor.

The lower ends of the inner channel members 26 are,provided with rollers 2& (Fig. 6) adapted to move with the inner channels and which en gage the outer relatively stationary channels 25 which constitute a trackway therefor.

There is thus defined a telescoping frame heretofore known in the industrial truck art but which may be raised and lowered without sacrificing the rigidity necessary to resist stresses tending to defiectthe assembly from its vertical disposition.

lTheplatform 8 issupported in vertical traversable relationto the frame 2!! by L-shaped arms 30,which.have vertical portions ii! on which rollers 32 are journalled in vertical spaced relation for engagementwith the inner channels 2% which constitute. a trackway therefor. The arms 3b are transversely joined by cross structurals 33 at their ends.v adjacent the. trackways and by a pivot bar 34 adjacent their. outer extremities. Associated with the pivot bar 34 are slippers 35 on which the load supporting platform 8 is adapted to bear. Since the platform isrigidly affixed to the slippers 35v and is otherwise unsecured along its length, it isadapted to. be tipped or tilted as by a hydraulic jack BIS-shown in Fig. 4. Such tipping or tilting of the platform is desirable to facilitate loading and unloading of. certain types of loads.

.The platform israised and lowered by means of the hydraulic piston 9 previously referred to which is provided with a cross-head 3? for mounting. idle sprockets 38 over which the lifting chains 39;.are adapted to ride. At one of their ends the chains are made fast to one of the cross structurals. .33 extending between the arms 3E? and at their other-ends-are made fast to some stationary part of the vehicle usually a T bearing at (Fig. 6)

iii

which is carried on the cylinder of piston 9 for this purpose. It will be seen that the vertical movement of the piston will through the chains 39 be translated into lift of the platform 8 through the associated parts and that for every increment of distance moved vertically by the piston, the platform moves two increments or has a range of movement. equal to twice .that of the piston.

In the initiation of the movement the arms 38 are lifted along the inner trackways 26 until the crosshead 31 of the piston comes into engagement with the cross beam 21 of the inner track- .way during which initial movement the crosshead .is steadied .and guided by rods 4| which are rigidly secured tothezcross beam 21 and which extend downwardly .into. cooperating recesses in the crosshead to effect sliding engagement therewith. At the limits-ofthis movement the crosshead of the piston bears against the beam 21 and by continuing its upper thrust. lifts the inner trackway 26 relative to the outer trackway 25, thuscontinuing the vertical translation of they platform. In apreferred'embodiment of the invention the platform has been afforded a 52 inch lift froma point below the horizontal plane of the axes of the wheels-to the highest positionat which the hydraulic piston 9 canextend (26" thrust).

The boom hoist H is illustrated as comprising a built-up boom l3 (Fig. 7) pivoted to the vertical stanchion l2 upon a horizontal pivot 35 about which it is adapted toqbe-raised and lowered. The raising of the boom is effected by taking up the hoisting hook line: 50 untilthe hook i l, or its associated parts,; engagesthe end of the boom adjacent the sheave 5i, -so' that, continuedpull by the line 50 raises the boom. To hold the boom in elevatedgposition'so-as to free'the hook and its associated rigging for. hoisting purposes, the line 46 is provided for attachment to the boom at one of its ends, and, after passing around a sheave atop the stanchion I2, is fastened to a spring-actuated. self-winding sheave or Windlass 48 carried within the interior of the boom. ,A ratchet wheel and pawl 49 areassociated with the windlassso aslto'permit it to wind in the line 46 .as the boom is raised, but-to hold the windlass against vunvszinding untilthe weight of the boomis againhorne by the hoisting hook l4 and line 50 and the pawl is. released by. manipulation of the lever, (Figs. land 2) .upon the outside of the 1000111. In. operation. with, the pawl free of the ratchet, as the boom is lowered. the spring associated with the Windlass is wound-up, and as the boom is raised, automatically drives thewindlass to take-up the; line.

The line.5ll ofthehoiStinghook l4 is adapted to run over .sheavesjkand fiz interiorly of the boom and oversheavefiS on, the post 52. It then runs through v the center of the .post to fixed sheaves .54. and .55.and from thence to an actuating cylinder (not vshown).mounted within one of the boxzbeamsectionsof; the frame. The sheaves 41 and 53 mountedontop .of. the post I2 are carried on-a rotatable frame 56 which has ball bearings 51 (Fig. 7) to allow the sheaves to turn in any position into which the boom. 13 is swung.

The truck is .steered preferably by making the wheels nearest theoperator dirigible. All of the controls for driving andsteering the truck, as well as raising and-lowering the platform-8, and hoisting hook [4, are disposed in convenient positions adjacent themotor 4. on. the .operators platform 5. The truck maybecperated to take on; or to discharge, loads and remove. them from one place to another at relatively-high speed, which may inelude differences of level coming within the range of traverse of the elevated platform 8, by means of a single operator at these controls.

In the foregoing it is to be seen that a truck of the load-straddling variety of greatly simplified construction has been provided which has the advantage of supporting a load so that its center of gravity of the load is within the four points of suspension of the wheels without interference from cross structurals for the frame, 2

either at chassis level, or overhead, and Without interference from wheel axles or the like. The load, being distributed evenly over four wheels, presents reduced unit loading conditions per wheel as compared to conventional types, and makes possible larger diameter wheels and pneumatic tires for high speed movement under road conditions.

I claim:

In an industrial truck for load carrying at high speeds of heavy elongated bodies, the combination of a frame having a section for carrying a power unit to drive the truck, said frame having a bifurcated end to enable the load to be supported centrally of the frame, a plurality of resilient wheels supporting said frame, a U-shaped frame member havin the yoke attached to said first frame with the opposed legs thereof extending horizontally towards one end of the truck, an elevator mechanism mounted on said section and having a platform translatable vertically and receivable Within the bounds of said bifurcated end, a tubular hoist stanchion mounted on the first frame member, means connected to said hoist stanchion for elevating said stanchion and hoisting loads with said'stanchion, said stanchion and elevator platform cooperating to displace a load either laterally or vertically upon said platform particularly when said platform is depressed to the ground, thus resulting in greater stability in loading and unloading whereby said stanchion and platform may be employed to cooperate in the emplacement of a. load upon the truck with a decreased chance to tip.

HENRY F. WILMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,388,721 Keeping Aug. 23, 1921 1,411,875 Schroeder Apr. 4, 1922 1,435,354 Weaver Nov. 14, 1922 1,451,773 Hescock Apr. 17, 1923 1,831,140 Romine et a1 Nov. 10, 1931 1,834,985 Stoner Dec. 8, 1931 1,846,567 Murray, Jr Feb. 23, 1932 1,914,118 Goldrick et al. June 13, 1933 1,978,170 Roesner Oct. 23, 1934 2,055,747 Laube et al. Sept. 29, 1936 2,259,558 Evans Oct. 21, 1941 2,306,713 Prucha Dec. 29, 1942 2,336,831 Ashworth Dec. 14, 1943 2,369,838 Minnis Feb. 20, 1945 2,387,568 Drott et a1 Oct. 23, 1945 

